FACTBOX-How Sudan and South Sudan shape up militarily

Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation - Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:11 GMT

Author: Reuters

April 19 (Reuters) - In a rousing speech to supporters, Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on Thursday vowed to give South Sudan's leaders a "final lesson" by force, as clashes over the disputed Heglig oil-producing region edged the two neighbours ever closer to war.

Sudan's army is far better equipped than South Sudan's, but the south has battle-hardened fighters who are veterans of decades of guerrilla civil war.

Here is a look at the two countries' military capabilities according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies report, "Military Balance 2012":

SOUTH SUDAN

* PERSONNEL: South Sudan has around 140,000 military personnel all of whom are in the army.

* MAIN BATTLE TANKS: The force includes over 110 main battle tanks made up of some T-55 and 110 T-72s.

* ARTILLERY: The military holds 69 pieces of artillery including 24 self-propelled 122mm guns. There are also 15 BM-21 122mm multiple rocket launchers. South Sudan also has more than 30 82mm mortars.

* AIR FORCE: South Sudan has one Beech 1900 light transport aircraft as well as nine Mi-17 multi-role helicopters and one Mi-172 transport helicopter.

SUDAN

* PERSONNEL: Sudan has 109,300 military personnel. Sudan also has a paramilitary force of 17,500, which is the military wing of National Islamic Front.

* ARMY: The country has a regular army of 85,000 and 20,000 conscripts.